California Biographies

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


SAMUEL H. FERRIL. An only child, Mr. Ferril was born in Saline county, Mo., near Mar- 
shall, April 13, 1872, a son of David and Cynthia (Wheeler) Ferril. The father was also a 
native of Missouri, being a son of Henry Ferril, who migrated to that state from Kentucky, 
settling at Miami, where he lived the remainder of his life, dying at a ripe old age. 

David Ferril passed his boyhood on his father's farm and in early manhood learned the car- 
penter's trade, which he followed in connection with farming. In the early '50s he crossed the 
plains with ox-teams, coming to California, where he lived a few years, when he returned 
to Missouri. He engaged in farming and contracting and building until 1881, when he again 
came to California, locating in Fresno county, where he purchased land upon which part of the 
town of Sanger now stands. Here he lived until his death in 1887. During the Civil war he was 
in General Shelby's brigade. His wife, who in maidenhood was Cynthia Wheeler, was born in 
Slater, Mo., a daughter of Samuel Wheeler. The year after her husband's death, Mrs. Ferril sold 
the farm at Sanger and purchased the property now owned by her son. Here she lived 
until her death, September 3, 1894, past the age of sixty years. 

Samuel H. Ferril was reared on a farm in Saline county, Mo., where he lived until his 
parents came to California. While he was compelled to assist his father who was in poor health, 
he was permitted to attend the district schools, and in this way received a good common school 
education. At the age of nineteen he began farming his mother's place. From the first" he 
made a success of the business and now owns two hundred and forty acres adjoining the town 
of Exeter. Here he has one of the finest ranches in Tulare county, devoting the whole to grain 
and stock-raising. In Farmersville he was united in marriage with Miss Carrie Mades, a daugh- 
ter of Philip Mades and a native of Missouri. She is the mother of one child, Virgie. 

Mr. Ferril takes a prominent part in lodge work, being one of the enthusiastic members of 
the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias. He also belongs to the Uniform Rank and has done 
much to further the interests of the order in this section of the county. He also holds member- 
ship in the Woodmen of the World. In politics he supports the men and measures of the Demo- 
cratic party, but has neither the time nor inclination to take an active part in political mat- 
ters. Socially he and his wife are popular and have a bright future.